[04/11/12 - 11:08 AM]Bravo's "Top Chef: The Tour" Kicks Off on Thursday, May 17th - 15-City Tour Showcases Cook-Off Between Former Chef'testantsSaid event kicks off in Charlotte, N.C. and runs through St. Louis, Mo. on June 30.

[via press release from Bravo]

BRAVO'S "TOP CHEF: THE TOUR" KICKS OFF ON THURSDAY, MAY 17TH

15-City Tour Showcases Cook-Off Between Former Chef'testants

NEW YORK - April 11, 2012 - Bravo hits the road again with the annual "Top Chef: The Tour" kicking off in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, May 17. The 15-city tour brings the Emmy and James Beard Award-winning, No. 1 food show on cable to fans and foodies nationwide. Back by popular demand, the tour features a show-down between two former chef'testants in each market who compete in a live, interactive cook-off in front of "Top Chef" fans with a panel of local judges, and audience members.

"'The Top Chef Tour allows our passionate and engaged Bravo fans the chance to be up close and personal with one of their favorite shows," said Ellen Stone, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Bravo. "We provide a hands-on experience that takes them one step closer to being part of the show."

To date, "Top Chef: The Tour" has visited 82 cities, interacted with more than 44,000 "Top Chef" fans nationwide along the way and last year, the tour's online ticketing for all cities sold out within hours.

The free event provides fans with a chance to meet and greet the Chef'testants they've come to know and root for, hear "Top Chef" show "secrets," and, for the first time ever, step into the judges shoes and rate their favorite Chef'testants' food. Guests will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of on-site activities, including "Top Chef"-themed Cornhole Toss, Tip the Scale - where fans will be tasked with putting items in order of weight, and "Top Chef" Horseshoe Toss. Additionally, attendees can purchase Bravo and "Top Chef" merchandise on-site.

"Top Chef: The Tour" will be pulling up to a farmer's market, mall or food festival in the following cities:

"For the past four years, The Top Chef Tour has proven to be a key event that helps drive revenue for our distribution partners, giving their customers the opportunity to directly connect with Bravo's highly engaged fans," added Brian Hunt, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales Strategy, TV Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal.

Partnership opportunities for affiliate partners at each city stop include a VIP reserved cooking demonstration, meet and greet with chef'testants, "Tip The Scale" Challenge sponsorship, logo placements, a sampling of affiliate products, advertising services and sponsor table, and promotional spots on plasma televisions airing throughout the day. Additionally, affiliates will provide 250 on-air spots, which include 125 "Top Chef: The Tour" promotional spots, as well as 125 spots for designated Bravo programming.

To sign up for free admission and learn more about "Top Chef: The Tour," visit http://www.bravotv.com/thetour.